Israel receives bodies of four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza

Hello. A Red Cross convoy has arrived in Israel, carrying the bodies of hostages released by Hamas for the first time since the start of a ceasefire agreement last month. We bring you the latest developments. From Panama, my colleagues at BBC Mundo report on the living conditions of migrants deported from the US, who are being held at a hotel in the capital city. And finally, archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the first tomb of a pharaoh since Tutankhamun's.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Hamas hands over bodies of four hostages

Israel and Hamas agreed to exchange 33 hostages for about 1,900 prisoners in the first six weeks of the ceasefire. Credit: Reuters

Israel has received the bodies of four hostages taken to Gaza by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups during the deadly attack on 7 October 2023. Hamas said the bodies are those of a mother and two children from the Bibas family and Oded Lifschitz, 84, a veteran peace activist. The fate of the Bibas family had gripped Israel. Hamas claimed in November 2023 that they had been killed in an Israeli air strike, without providing evidence. Israeli officials said they were gravely concerned for their lives. Their pictures stare out from the front pages of this morning’s Israeli papers, writes correspondent Paul Adams, describing the atmosphere in the country as "a heavy blanket of grief". Israel will only confirm their return once forensic tests have been completed. Six living hostages are due to be freed on Saturday.

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BEYOND THE HEADLINES

US deportees held in Panama hotel

The people held in the Panama City hotel arrived on three flights from the US last week. Credit: Getty Images

The Panamanian government said the Decápolis Hotel in Panama City has become a "temporary custody" centre housing 299 undocumented migrants deported from the US. From their windows, some migrants cross their arms at the wrists to indicate that they are deprived of their freedom. Others hang small signs with other messages such as: "We are not safe in our country."

And finally...

For more than a century, Tutankhamun's was the last royal tomb of the 18th Egyptian dynasty to be found. King Thutmose II's original burial site had proved elusive - until a joint British-Egyptian team located it near the city of Luxor, in an area known to be the resting places of royal women. When they got into the burial chamber, they found it decorated - the sign of a pharaoh.